COVID-19: India to import Johnson & Johnson vaccine by July

Last updated Apr 23, 2021

India to import Johnson & Johnson’s single-shot COVID-19 vaccine for fill and finish by June or July.

The Secretary Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, Renu Swarup said on Thursday.

Fill and finish is the final step in the manufacturing process of putting the vaccine into vials or syringes, sealing them and packaging them up for shipping.

India has said it would fast-track emergency approvals for COVID-19 vaccines authorized by Western countries and Japan, paving the way for possible imports of Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson and Moderna shots.

This will exempt companies from carrying out local safety trials for their vaccines.

“The Johnson & Johnson vaccines are expected to be imported to India by June-July 2021. Johnson & Johnson is working closely with Biological E to facilitate the ongoing tech transfer to India,” Swarup said.

India recorded the world’s highest daily tally of coronavirus cases for a second day in a row on Friday with 332,730 new cases, while daily deaths from COVID-19 also jumped by a record.

Kamila/Reuters